Jury selection enters new phase for Jackson suit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys have begun one-on-one questioning of prospective jurors in a wrongful-death lawsuit by Michael Jackson's mother against the company that promoted his ill-fated "This is It" concert.

The second phase of jury selection came Monday after lengthy preliminaries in which jurors filled out questionnaires probing their views about the superstar singer, his family and his life and death.

A preliminary panel of 104 prospects was immediately reduced by six when members reported that they had hardships or knew people on the witness list for the trial.

One of those excused was a Canadian singer-songwriter who said he had met members of the musical Jackson family and was friends with Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson's ex-wife.